Theory of the normal resistivity and specific heat of high-temperature superconducting materials.

Abstract

A theory for the resistivity of high-temperature superconducting materials in their normal state is presented. The resistivity comes about because of emission of acoustic-phonon-like excitations with low characteristic frequencies. The theory predicts a linear rise in the resistivity as a function of temperature. A linear dependence of the specific heat on temperature is predicted at moderate temperatures.